Graphic + Web Design: A Presentation for Career Day at Carrillo Elementary School

Ask the Audience

Graphic design is a shortcut in visual communication.

Graphic design is a form of art. It often combines many different forms of art, including photography, drawing, painting, computer-generated images, and motion graphics.

Would You Rather

Would you rather read all of this?

Nike is a major sportswear and equipment supplier based in the United States. It is the world’s leading supplier of athletic shoes and apparel and a major manufacturer of sports equipment. Nike sponsors many high profile athletes and sports teams around the world, with the highly recognized trademarks of “Just do it” and the Swoosh logo.

Or just LOOK at this?

Design at Work

Where is graphic design?

It’s everywhere!!!

Logos

Street Signs

CD Covers

Movie Posters

Music Posters

Brochures

Business Cards

Flyers

Stickers

ALL OVER Television!

Websites

Advertisements

Billboards

Book Covers

Magazine Covers

Clothing!

Video Games

Why is it important?

It influences us!

Graphic Design, especially GOOD graphic design, can influence many decisions we make. It can have an impact on how we view something or even someone, for good or bad. Graphic design is behind every major company and many individuals because it helps us to remember them.

Would You Rather

Which game would you rather play?

Which character would you rather go into battle with?

Which website would you rather browse?

Think About It!

What do you think it takes to become a Graphic Designer?

General Interest

Education

Foundation for Art and general rules (Color, Type)

Practice!

Communication Skills

Discipline (especially if you want to be your own boss)

…more…???

What type of graphic design would YOU like to do?

The possibilities are endless now, and there will likely be so much more out there by the time you’re all adults. So if you have any interest in art or in being creative, stay interested! Keep exploring and having fun with it! Chances are, if you work hard you can have a really great career as a Graphic Designer.

Get started!

Start your design career by designing your very own logo. Use your initials to create a monogram and design it however you’d like. Practice, practice, practice!

Redesign your favorite video game cover.

Draw up the next album art for your favorite musician.

Put your favorite celebrity on a movie poster.

Design a new character for your favorite book!

Create a new t-shirt design using the logo of your favorite team.

Design the menu for your family’s dinner next week.

Create a family logo.

Pretend you’re going to be featured in next month’s issue of your favorite magazine. What will the pages look like?

Come up with a new comic!

14 Comments

abbey
on April 16, 2013 at 8:57 pm

Love this presentation! I have to speak in a few days to my son’s preschool and I feel alot of this can translate well to even smaller children! Great Job!

Awsome job! I too have to speak to a group of middle-schoolers in at the end of this week, and I was hung up a bit on how to convey to them the practical application of Graphic Design (as opposed to just talking about my company.) This helps a ton. Thanks alot!

Hey, “borrow” away! I’m happy to help in any way I can, ESPECIALLY when it comes to teaching young ones about design and all the opportunities it offers them. Good on you for being a presenter, Natalie.

One other thing that really helped me hold their attention and encourage participation: I brought in samples of things I designed that the kids might like, and I gave them out to kids who asked questions at the end. One of my clients at the time had actually founded an organization aimed at helping youth live a positive lifestyle, and I had created its identity. So I asked him for samples beforehand and he was happy to donate a BUNCH of things – stickers, branded bracelets, and even a few t-shirts. He knew it was for a good cause (career day) and also saw it as a marketing effort for his organization. Win-win-win! So during my talk, I showed the pieces to the kids, explaining my role as a graphic designer in creating them, then gave them out to kids who asked questions at the end. It got their wheels spinning, and also tapped into topics of design I hadn’t thought of mentioning before that because I didn’t know they were interested. It was very cool.

In hindsight, one thing I wish I had done: Brought in a tangible, printed list of websites/resources for the kids to look into, beyond that day. My own website in case they had questions, and maybe other artists’ websites to check out, too. And I would’ve categorized the list by topics that appealed to them (maybe game design, animation, illustration, sports logos, music and album art, 3D, calligraphy/lettering, etc.).

Anyway, best of luck and if you think of it, please let me know how it goes!